Car-coupling.



mi 634,733. v Patantad'flct in, 1899'.

m. WELBH. GAR COUPLING.

(Application filed Nov. 26, 1898) (No Model.)

, side elevation, partly in section.

UNITED STAIES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL I. VVELCH, OF CORDELE, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF TlVO-THIRDS TO SAMUEL T. BARNETT, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

oAn-coueLmo'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,783, d t d o mb 10, 1899.

Application filed llovemher 26, 1898. Serial lilo. 697,514. (llo model.) A

T0 at whom, it may concern.- I

Be it known that 1, MICHAEL I. W ELCH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Gordele, in the county of Dooly and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers, of which the follo win g is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in car-couplings, and more particularly one of the so-cailed Janney type and constructed on the Master Oar-Builders lines, the objects being, first, to provide a car-coupling which will withstand the strain and punishment which-equipments of this character are constantly subjected to and at the same time one in which agninim'uin of metal will be employed, so that it can be made as light as practicable without impairing its strength andusefulness, and dispensing with as many auxiliary parts as possible.

A second object is to construct a coupling which will operate on curves.

A third objectis to provide a coupling which will prevent the'ingress of rain or snow into its interior, thus avoiding the rusting and clogging up of the parts.

A fourth object is to prevent the accidental combinations of parts, more fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view showing two draw-heads coupled together, a portion of one broken away to show the interior construction. Fig. 2 is a view in Fig. 3 is a viewin perspective of the lower end of the locking-pin, and Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the same. y

A represents the draw-bar, the same being draw-bar.

of the ordinary construction and therefore requiring no detailed description, and B is the draw-head formed on the outer end of the This, though, is on the general plan of the standard Master Oar-Builders coupling, except that it is modified by my improvet'nents. This draw-head terminates at one sidein the comparatively short jaws 1 1, which project but slightly beyond the body of the draw -head, as contradistinguished from those usually employed, which extend a considerable distance outward beyond the bumper or butting-face 2 of thedraw-head, the

object of this shortening of the jaws being to attain a stronger and more compact coupling, as' this point is one where a large portion, if not all, of the draft and strain comes. On top of the draw-head is formed-the upward extension 4, and through this extension, the top of the draw-head, and into the interior of the latter an angular opening 5, preterablysquare in cross-section, is formed. Projecting forwardly f rpm the upper end of this extension is a nose 6. This nose is provided for the purpose of catching the draw-head should it be broken from the draw-bar, so as to prevent it from dropping on the track and becoming lost :or endangering the derailment of a car or train. The noses on the two adjacentdrawheads have the further function of absolutely preventing the couplings from sliding apart vertically, as the distance of the noses from the knuckles is less than the width of the knuckles.

0 represents the locking-pin. gula'r and preferably square in cross-section or of a shape corresponding to the opening 5 to fit nicely and slide up and down in. This part is made comparatively heavy, so that there is little danger of its creeping up and allowing the cars to accidentally uncouple. At its top it is in the form of a cap 7, the edge of which overlaps the opening 5,'forining a roof therefor to prevent the ingress of rain, snow, dirt, or what not, which would impair the operativenessof the parts. An elongated vertical slot 9 extends transversely through the locking-pin and the bolt passes through the extension 4, and this slot retains the locking-pin in the opening 5 and allows it a lim- This is anin the draw-head, which opening it is adapted itcd vertical motion defined by the length of the slot. At its lower end this locking-pin is beveled or inclined on the forward right-hand quarter at 12, and back of this inclined portion the two shoulders 13 and 141 are formed.

1) is the knuckle. This is hinged in the usual fashion to the jaws of the draw-head. In the tail of the knuckle a curved hole 15 is bored, in which a spiral spring 16 is seated, the rear end of the latter protruding fora'n inch or so in position to strike the interior of the draw-head, whereby to automatically throw the knuckle open when otherwise released. The tail 17 of the knuckle is of a tapering or wedge shape in horizontal section, as shown, and the rear edge may be straight or inclined, as desired, its function being to strike the inclined or beveled forward end of the locking-pin and cause the latter to rise as the knuckle is closed. Providing the knuckle is on a curve, the lower shoulder 13 of the locking-pin first drops upon the tail of the knuckle. This locks the knuckle sufficiently tight to couple the cars; but it is not the extreme closed position of the knuckle, and in this way ample provision is made for the coupling upon a curve which otherwise would not be given. After the cars are off the curve and in a straight or approximately straight line and as soon as sufficient slack is formed the knuckles will be forced to their extreme inward positions,when the locking pin or pins will drop until the upper shoulder 14 rests upon the tail of the knuckle in each coupling.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there are only three parts to the coupling and that these are simple in construction and require but a minimum of material, so that while they are simple they are also as light as'possible. It will also be noticed that the coupling is perfectly automatic, that the danger of accidental uncoupling or of the dropping of the parts upon the track is precluded, and

that it is impossible for moisture or extraneous material of any kind to get into the coup ling-pin to lessen its free and ready response orprevent its dropping by gravity the moment the tail of the knuckle passes inside of this lower end.

It is evident that slight changes might be made in the form and arrangement of the several parts described Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction herein set forth; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a car-coupling, the combination with a draw-head, of an upward extension through which an opening is formed into the top of the draw-head, and a nose projecting from the upper end of the upward extension adapted to have the combined function of preventing the vertical disengagement of the coup plings and of sustaining the draw-head in the event of its being broken from the draw-bar.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination with a draw'-bar, a draw-head and a spring-actuated knuckle hinged thereto, the tail of which knuckle is approximately wedge-shaped, of an upward extension on the draw-head provided with an overlapping projecting nose, and an opening therein, a locking-pin having vertically-sliding movement in said opening, said pin having an inclined or beveled lower end adapted to be struck by the tail of the knuckle and forced upwardly, the pin provided back of the incline with a pair of shoulders and means for limiting the vertical movement of the gravity locking-pin.

MICHAEL I. WELOH.

In presence of A. J. OOMER, W. H. ABRAMS. 

